Launching next month is SciPop Talks!, a speaker series that explores topics at the intersection of science and pop culture. Think Wonder Woman and The Chemists’ War, comic book physics, or why is bacon so popular. Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dr. Raychelle Burks, who co-created SciPop Talks! at University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL) while a postdoctoral scholar, is hoping these Science Cafe style events will attract a diverse crowd of pop culture and science fans. SciPop Talks! program will be a collaboration with the Munday Library, who will host the talks and offer a multi-media content that supports each talk’s content. Talks are aimed toward a general audience, being 20-30 minutes in length, with Q&A to follow. Like a movie night, snacks will be provided!

The Hilltop’s SciPop Talks! will kick-off on October 4th with Dr. Michael Saclolo (Mathematics) shedding light on Euler’s Method, brought into the mainstream with the success of the book and movie Hidden Figures. Our October 11th talk will trigger your Spidey sense, with Dr. Matthew Steffenson (biology) talking Spider-Man science. Biology’s Emily Hooser Hartman’s will tackle the Harry Potter and the Transfiguration Problem on October 18th. Winter is coming to the Hilltop on October 25th when Dr. Burks talks The Song of Ice and Fire and Chemistry. All talks will start at 7pm in Munday Library room 141.

We hope to see all pop culture and science fans there!